On the Jellicoe Road

I’ve had a really good run of luck with my reading in 2015 so far. Most of the books I’ve read have been great. I’ve been handing out 5 stars left, right and centre on Amazon and Goodreads and giving many recommendations to my friends and family on what to read next. It’s been unusual, because I am actually quite a fussy reader, but I’m not complaining because obviously we all love a great book.However, now I’ve read On The Jellicoe Road. Suddenly all those 5 star books have become 4 stars. Possibly even 3.5. I feel I’ve been far too generous. Because if ever a book truly deserved 5 stars then this book is it. In fact I think Amazon and Goodreads should have an option that once a year you could give one book a 6 star rating, because then you would hang onto that 6 star rating, saving it until something really surpassed all those other really good books read. This book would have got my 6 star rating.I’m going to try not to rave too much, I’ll try and keep this review as brief as possible whilst at the same time do justice to how amazing it is.Like some of the other reviewers on here have said, the first section of the book is a little confusing. I’m glad I read those reviews before reading the book as it was thanks to them that I knew to persevere and all would make sense in a short while. And whilst it was a little confusing to begin with, that did not put me off as the style of writing was brilliant and there was enough going on to make me curious to know more. And the reviewers were right, it wasn’t long before everything started to make sense. By the time that point came I couldn’t put this book down.I’m not going to give away too much of the storyline, I agree with a lot of the other reviews that this book should be read without too much knowledge about it. I will mention that when I started reading it I had the impression that it was a dystopian novel. I don’t know why I thought that, perhaps because I’d been reading so much of that genre recently. Or perhaps to do with the description which talked about territory wars and factions. Anyway it is not a dystopian novel, it is set in modern day Australia. I wanted to clarify that in case anyone else is under the same impression as to begin with it added a little to my confusion.I will also say that it is about love, heartbreak, friendship, loneliness, hope and despair. The writing is amazing, I can’t describe it in a way that does it justice other than to say that by the time I closed this book I felt like I was closing a door on a place I’d like to call home and people I’d like to call friends. And I was going to miss it. (And I do). It has pushed every one of my emotional buttons. I laughed (out loud and often).<i>“What's with what you're wearing?" Griggs asks while we stand outside waiting for the others."It's pretty hideous, isn't it?" I say."Don't force me to look at it," he says. "It's see-through."That kills conversation for a couple of seconds.</i>And I cried. I would like to point out that I rarely properly cry when reading a book. I might feel a little choked or emotional, but this book brought about actual real tears.<i>My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die.I counted.It happened on the Jellicoe Road. The prettiest road I’d ever seen, where trees made breezy canopies like a tunnel to Shangri-La. We were going to the ocean, hundreds of miles away, because I wanted to see the ocean and my father said that it was about time the four of us made that journey. I remember asking, 'What’s the difference between a trip and a journey?' and my father said, 'Narnie, my love, when we get there, you’ll understand.' And that was the last thing he ever said.” </i>Even now just thinking about some of the events or lines in the book evoke a strong reaction and I can find myself smiling or welling up.They say asking a reader to name their favourite book is like asking a mother to name their favourite child, nearly impossible. I am not saying that this book is my favourite, but it certainly up there amongst them. This is a book that would pop into my head should I ever be asked that question. You won’t regret reading it. And the best bit, it’s even better the second time around!

This novel may have suffered from the curses of hype and over-expectation. It seems like almost every book blogger I enjoy reading has loved this book and I, well, didn't. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, I just never completely gelled with the story or the characters.I felt like I was lost as to what was happening in the story as I was just thrown in at the beginning. This is not something that bothers me ordinarily but the pace is so slow to start with that it was hard to keep my motivation up to continue reading. Several times I was ready to quit and then a little scrap of information would be given about the territory war or Taylor's back story. But I felt like these morsels were too few and far between. It does pick up later on, towards the final third, but by that point it had frustrated me a lot and that, sadly, affected my overall feelings towards the novel.The characters I just felt blah about for the most part. Taylor was not a character I liked to any great degree. I found her to be irritable and unfriendly towards others. Again, this is not usually a problem for me as I can read a book and be okay with unlikeable characters, but coupled with a story that I was having a hard time getting to grips with was too much. And like the storyline, Taylor and the other characters become much more likeable in the final third but, again, there was too much water under the bridge by that point for me to really care.What I did like about this novel was the second story interspersed between Taylor's narrative. This was what kept me reading. I wanted to know who these five friends were and how and why they were going to be connected to the primary story. No spoilers, but this was what made the book worth completing for me.I can understand what so many people loved about this story and these characters but, ultimately, it left me feeling cold and I barely even liked it, never mind loved it.

Love this book, originally bought for a quote in the book. But after reading the story I was hooked into another world. Definitely worth the buy. I keep reading this book over and over

A well woven story with heart, soft humour and the odd tear. Interesting characters searching for something and an interesting setting that adds depth. I would recommend this story as it keeps you turning the pages and hoping for good for the characters.

I don't think I could recoMmend this book more. it's absolutely amazing and I read it in a day. it had me gripped and it it purely an amazing story and it's just brilliantly. I can't praise it or Melina enough. this is one of my all time favourite books and I just can't get my head around the amazing story and the thoughts and feelings that was put into it. it won't be everyone's cup of tea but I couldn't love it and recommend it more!!! brilliant!!!

Love this book, powerfully emotional with a charismatic lead character. One of my favourite books ever. The intertwining of the stories can seem complicated but then there's moments of dry humour that make you wish these were real people. So much more depth than many of the books out there, you won't regret reading anything by Melina Marchetta.

There will never be a story greater than this one. Ever. I've re-read this book countless of times over the years and I'm always left in awe.

I love Melina Marchetta and this is possibly her best novel - so moving and compelling and well written.